Jack Rhodes

Induction Year: 1972

Birth Name: Andrew Jackson Rhodes

Birth Date: 01-12-1907

Place of Birth: Gedden, Texas

Death Date: 10-09-1968

Place of Death: Mineola, Texas

Jack Rhodes co-wrote two massive hits of the 1950s that have become standards
in country and pop music: "A Satisfied Mind" and "Silver Threads and Golden
Needles." Born in Van Zandt County, Texas, Jack Rhodes quit school at a young
age to help support his family. During World War II, he worked in the Houston
shipyards. He injured his back in a fall there in 1944, and during his
recuperation he began concentrating on music.

He was the stepbrother of fellow Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame member Leon
Payne and served as Payne's bandleader from 1947 to 1948. When Rhodes left
Payne, it caused a major rift between them. They reportedly never spoke
again.

Jack Rhodes often collaborated on songs with Texas fiddler Joe "Red" Hayes. "A
Satisfied Mind" is co-credited to Hayes. Another frequent collaborator was Dick
Reynolds, with whom he wrote his other biggest success, "Silver Threads and
Golden Needles." Rhodes was the salesman of both teams, successfully
promoting their songs to recording artists.

Ever the entrepreneur, at various times in his career Jack Rhodes owned the
National Sounds record company, the All Roads Music and Red Ball song
publishing companies, a dog kennel, a café in Grand Saline, Texas and the Trail
80 Motor Courts, a gas station, restaurant and motel in Mineola, Texas. He also
helped launch the career of country star Billie Jo Spears.

Around 1953, Rhodes built a studio behind the kitchen at the motel. He had led
his own bands in the 1940s, but from the 1950s onward he made recordings of his
songs and served as a mentor to young Texas writers and singers. He was
particularly active in the emerging rockabilly musical movement.

One of his earliest successes was "Gypsy Heart," which he placed with Jim
Reeves in 1953 as the B-side of the hit "Bimbo." Rhodes was 46 years old at the
time, a late bloomer as a songwriter.

He was next signed to Central Songs. The publishing company's Cliffie Stone had
an inside track to artists signed to Capitol Records, so Rhodes' songs found
their way to the label's Jean Shepard, Ferlin Husky, Wanda Jackson, Sonny
James, Rose Maddox and rockabilly star Gene Vincent.

Rhodes died of a heart attack in 1968. He was inducted into the Rockabilly Hall
of Fame in 2009. The Mineola Historical Museum in Texas displays his career
memorabilia.